Temporary binder or loose sheet holder



| L. ALLYN ET AL TEMPORARY BINDER OR LOOSE SHEET HOLDER Aug. 6, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1954' INVENTORS 220 7 L. J 62 ATTORNEYS Aug 6, 1935. L. L. ALLYN ET AL TEMPORARY BINDER OR LOOSE SHEET HOLDER Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Leo/7 L. d// n Robe/2* E. 7 4/0/16 :ayfiw A ORNEYS Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES TEMPORARY BINDER OR LOOSE SHEET HOLDER Leon L. Allyn and Robert E. Maloney, Kalamazoo, M1ch., assignors to Master-Craft Corporation,

Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,056

6 Claims.

The main objects of this inventionare: First, to provide a temporary binder or loose sheet holder in which the entire sheet body may be quickly and easily released for handling as a unit and also may be quickly and easily bound or re-engaged and secured within the binder.

Second, to provide a temporary or loose sheet binder which is capable of very rapid manipulation to engage or release the sheets and at the 10 same time one in which the sheet body is very securely retained.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of our invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a binder embodying our invention in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the top cover released and thrown back to release the sheet body.

Fig. 3 is an inside perspective view with the sheet body removed from the binder, the adjusting mechanism being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating one manner of manipulation or grasping in removal of the sheet body as a unit from the binder.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the steps in the assembling of the sheet body within the binder.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the position of the parts at a succeeding step or period in the assembling operation.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the sheet body completely assembled within the binder.

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of one of the clamping or binding bars.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated comprises a pair of covers I and 2 connected by the flexible binding strips 3. The cover 2 carries an adjusting mechanism, preferably the ratchet adjusting mechanism of the patent to Allyn et al., No. 1,772,475 dated August 12, 1930, which comprises the ratchet bar 4 disposed longitudinally of the cover, the adjusting bar 5 to which the binding strips are secured, and the pawl 6 on the adjusting bar 5 coacting with the ratchet bar. As is disclosed in said patent, the finger piece I is adapted not only for manipulation of the adjusting bar but also controls the pawl to release the adjusting bar from the ratchet bar. There are,

howevenother forms of ratchet and other adjusting mechanisms for binding strips in the art which might be used with quite satisfactory results in this connection.

The flexible back strip 8 is telescoped into the 5 cover I and is tensioned by means of the coiled spring 9 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Clamping bars l0, preferably flat pieces or bars of steel, are provided, these clamping bars having at their outer sides laterally projecting pivot ears 4 l 10 secured to the inner ends of the covers by the pintles i2. With this arrangement the clamping bars are free to swing about the inner ends of the covers to a position in which they lie in planes substantially parallel to the planes of the covers as in Fig. 7, or to a position at right angles to the planes of the covers as in Fig. 4.

These clamping bars are provided with slots l3 through which the binding strips are disposed, the slots or openings l3 being of such size as to permit some rocking movement of the clamping or binding bars relative to the strips. The clamping bars have transverse slots l4 opening at their rear edges, the slots being preferably flared at their outer ends, the purpose of which will appear later.

The sheets l5 have slots 16 in their rear edges adapted to receive the binding strips and provided with post holes l1 adapted to receive the posts I8 of the post bars J9. These post bars I9 have notches or slots 20 opening at their rear edges alined with the notches I6 of the sheets and adapted to receive the binding strips. The post bars are provided with studs 2i suitably spaced to engage the slots M of the binding bars and engageable therewith by a transverse movement of the post bars. The slots M are preferably flared at their outer ends to facilitate engagement of the studs with the slots.

Assuming the binder to be closed and that it is desired to release the sheet body, the cover 2 is opened to afford access to the finger piece I, which is manipulated to release the pawl. The cover 2 is then pulled outwardly and swung down upon the table as shown in Fig. 4. This movement will cause the clamping bar upon which the sheet body rests to swing to the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the clamping bars may be conveniently grasped as there indicated for removing the sheet body. It is not necessary, however, to grasp the sheet body as indicated in Fig. 4 as the sheet body is completely free from the binder and may be removed therefrom with a sweeping stroke or movement toward the left. The opening of the binder and the action of the binding strips on the clamping bars as the 5 top cover is swung open, as indicated, will completely free the post bars. The sheet body may be placed in an accounting rack or otherwise manipulated as desired, such devices and means of manipulation being well understood by those skilled in the art.

When it is desired to re-assemble the sheets within the binder the post bars are engaged therewith and the sheet body and post bars merely laid upon the cover l in the general position indicated in Fig. 5. All that it is then necessary to do is grasp the cover 2 and pull on the finger piece l which shortens the binding strips between the covers, and continued pull will carry the sheet body forwardly on the cover I from the position shown in Fig. 5 to a subsequent position shown in Fig. 6, which illustrates the parts as they are about to assume their final position. Continued pull will bring the parts to their final position shown in Fig. 7.

This avoids the necessity of manipulating the sheet body and post bars to engage the posts with the binding bars, which has been one of the difficult features or manipulations in binders of this type.

It will be observed that, the binding strips being disposed through the slots in the clamping bars and the clamping bars pivotally supported by the ears H, the swinging movement of the binding strips tends to swing the clamping bars either to the position shown in Fig. 4 to release the post bars or to the post bar engaging position. The slots on the front cover clamping bar are also of considerable importance, particularly in the closing of the binder, as it is not necessary to swing up the top cover and engage its clamping bars with the upper studs 2! prior to tightening the binding strips. It is only necessary to swing the top cover forwardly over the sheet body as illustrated in Fig. 5, for example, and pull on the binding strip adjusting mechanism finger piece, which will draw the sheet body into bind ing position and the clamping bars into proper engagement with the studs on the post bars.

Our improved binder may be very rapidly and very easily manipulated, both to release the sheet body and to secure it in position. The flaring of the ends of the slots l4 facilitates the entrance of the studs thereto and very little care is required in placing the sheet body before the closing or binding operation.

We have illustrated flat binding strips, and employed the term binding strips, but it will be understood that cords or round strips may be used, and that these may be of various materials, although a good leather stock is highly desirable for the purpose.

We have illustrated our improvements in a very practical embodiment. We have not attempted to illustrate other embodiments or adaptations which we contemplate as we believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a binder for sheets having alined slots opening at their rear edges and alined post openings, of covers, binding strips extending between the covers, an adjusting means for said binding strips, clamping bars pivotally mounted at the inner ends of said covers, said clamping bars having slots opening at their rear edges, and post bars provided with sheet engaging posts and with studs engaging with said slots in said clamping bars when the post bars are presented transversely to the clamping bars.

2. In a loose sheet binder, the combination of covers, binding strips extending between the covers, an adjusting mechanism for said binding strips carried by one of said covers, fiat clamping bars having pivot ears on their outer sides pivotally mounted on the inner ends of said covers, said clamping bars having openings therein through which said binding strips are disposed and slots opening at the rear edges of the bars and flared outwardly at their outer ends, and post bars provided with rearwardly opening binding strip slots and having studs on their outer sides engageable with said rearwardly opening slots in said clamping bars when the post bars are shifted transversely to the clamping bars.

3. In a loose sheet binder, the combination of covers, binding strips extending between the covers, an adjusting means for said binding strips, clamping bars pivotally mounted on the covers, said clamping bars having flared slots opening at the rear edges thereof, and post bars provided with studs engageable with said slots in said clamping bars when the post bars are shifted transversely upon the clamping bars.

4:. In a loose sheet binder, the combination with covers, binding strips extending between the covers and adjusting mechanism for said binding strips carried by one of said covers, clamping bars pivotally mounted on said covers, and post bars having clamping bar engaging studs on their outer sides. said clamping bars having openings to receive said studs, the stud openings of the clamping bars being in the form of slots and opening at the rear edges of the clamping bars to receive the studs when they are presented transversely to the clamping bars.

5. In a loose sheet binder, the combination with covers, binding strips extending between the covers and adjusting mechanism for said binding strips carried by the upper cover, clamping bars pivotally mounted on said covers, and post bars having clamping bar engaging studs on their outer sides, said clamping bars having openings to receive said studs, the stud openings of the bottom clamping bar being in the form of slots and opening at its rear edge to receive the studs when they are presented transversely to such clamping bar.

6. In a loose sheet binder, the combination with covers, binding strips extending between the covers and adjusting mechanism for said binding strips carried by the upper cover, clamping bars pivotally mounted on said covers, and post bars having clamping bar engaging studs on their outer sides, said clamping bars having openings to receive said studs, the stud openings of the top clamping bar being in the form of slots and opening at its rear edge to receive the studs when they are presented transversely to such clamping bar.

LEON L. ALLYN. ROBERT E. MALONEY. 

